THEME OF THE WEEK: WHAT’S IN A NAME? (1/7) KISHEN DE(V)I - Documents such as this 1916 postcard addressed to a Sikh soldier by his daughter during the First World War (courtesy Avtar Singh Bahra) support the idea that, well into the 20th century, [1/3] cont...

3/5 Furthest groups were on Bougainville, 6,000km east of Singapore, 9,000km from India. First group found: 66 men of the 5th Bn/11th Sikhs on Manus Island, March ’44. 1st thing they wanted was new cloth for dastaar (turban) an article of faith representing honour, self-respect.

4/5 Turbans were made from parachute cloth. These men were luckier than most, released a full 18 months before most other POWs in New Guinea & taken to Australia for rehabilitation then shipped back to India. Many others were murdered in the last days of war. Sikhs At War

4/9: The previously mentioned group of 69 Sikh men were actually discovered on small adjacent Los Negros Island, near Manus. They walked into the US 1st Cavalry Division lines 8th March 1944. After two years slaving at the Imperial Japanese Navy base there, they were flown home.

@Sikh brothers, Naik Sohan Singh Nahar & Naik Surat Singh; POWs for 3½ years (captured in Singapore). They escaped into the Borneo jungle with 13 other Indians to try to contact the advancing Australian 9th Div. After 3 weeks they finally reached the 2/13th Aust. Bn in July 1945.

Proud @Sikh Engineer NCOs & sappers. Taken by Japanese to work on Borneo oilwells, after 3½ tough years 15 escaped in June 1945 to reach Australian 9 Div. L to R: Naik Harnam Singh, Naik Sohan Singh, Naik Sohan Singh Nahar, Naik Surat Singh, Sapper Ujagar Singh, Spr Chuhar Singh.

Liberated Sikh Soldiers on Los Negros Admiralty Islands 1944- Three of the 69 Indian Sikh fighters liberated by the U.S. 1st Cavalry Division , chat with an American soldier as they eat. The troops were captured by the Japanese at Singapore .#Sikhs

31 May 1944, New Guinea: Awaiting repatriation to India, some of the 66 survivors of the 5/11th #Sikh Regiment play cards. After the fall of Singapore, Japanese Navy transported them to Manus Island and used them as slave labour for 2 years. They were liberated by US Army forces.

Made a badge this morning in #Defiance 👤

The Ball of Fire Division led the advance of 14th Army following the battles of Imphal and Kohima down the Kabaw Valley to Kalemyo, opposite Kalewa on the the Chindwin, in preparation by the subsequent crossing of the Chindwin by 33 Corps

Squadron Leader Dalip Singh Majithia, Oldest Fighter Pilot of #IndianAirForce Passed Away at the age of 104 today. He retired in Aug 1947. Praying to Waheguru to Grant Peace to the Noble Soul. Jai Hind🇮🇳🫡 #Sikhs #Punjab

Sikhs part of the Indian Parachute Field Ambulance, a medical unit sent to provide aid for South Korea in the Korean War Korea, 1952

This newsreel clip, IWM IWM 28, shows the Hong-Kong-Singapore Mountain Battery of the Imperial Camel Corps operating during the Sinai and Palestine Campaign. x.com/thisdayinwwi/s…

A week ago we were commemorating the 80th anniversary of D-Day. Discover how you can help us keep the memories of those who fell during the Normandy campaign alive by visiting our website cwgc.org

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The Indian Sepoys drawing their rations from a depot during the Great War.

German 🇩🇪 women who lived through WW2 describing the beauty of Sikh soldiers

Walking Tour in Oxford by littlehistory'Sikhs on 23rd August. Do get in touch with littlehistory'Sikhs or me, to book places or find out more. 😊 Always an enjoyable few hours, usually in the sunshine. ☀

As part of South #Asian Heritage Month, here's a reminder of the amazing life of Sardar Hardit Singh Malik, the only #Sikh to fly with the Royal Air Force during the First World War. A man who fought to be free to be himself. South Asian Heritage Month